Liquid dispenser

ABSTRACT

A liquid dispenser for mouthwash and the like comprising a cylindrical storage container having a covered filling opening at one end thereof, and a liquid outlet aperture disposed at the other end thereof for admitting liquid from the container to an outlet funnel disposed below the aperture. A conically-shaped plug is slidably disposed in the outlet aperture to regulate the outflow of liquid therefrom, and is coupled to an annular ringshaped member disposed below the storage container and the outlet funnel. When a cup engages and moves the annular-shaped member upwardly, the conically-shaped plug is removed from the aperture, and the liquid flows through the aperture and the outlet funnel into the cup. When the annular member is released, the plug is forced back into the aperture, and stops the flow of liquid from the storage container.

United States Patent [191 Burns, Jr.

[4 Oct. 16, 1973 LIQUID DISPENSER Robert J. Burns, Jr., 112-20 72nd Dr., Forest Hills, NY. 1 1375 [22] Filed: Aug. 11, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 280,024

[76 I Inventor:

Primary Examiner-Samuel F. Coleman Assistant Examinerl-l. Grant Skaggs, Jr. Attorney-Allison C. Collard [5 7] ABSTRACT A liquid dispenser for mouthwash and the like comprising a cylindrical storage container having a covered filling opening at one end thereof, and a liquid outlet aperture disposed at the other end thereof for admitting liquid from the container to an outlet funnel disposed below the aperture. A conically-shaped plug is slidably disposed in the outlet aperture to regulate the outflow of liquid therefrom, and is coupled to an annular ring-shaped member disposed below the storage container and the outlet funnel. When a cup engages and moves the annular-shaped member upwardly, the comically-shaped plug is removed from the aperture, and the liquid flows through the aperture and the outlet funnel into thecup. When the annular member is released, the plug is forced back into the aperture, and stops the flow of liquid from the storage container.

3 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures LIQUID DISPENSER The present invention relates to dispensers, and in particular to a liquid dispenser for mouthwash and the like.

Presently, when mouthwash is used, it is generally poured from the container in which it is sold into a cup. This is inconvenient, and furthermore, insufficient storage space is sometimes available for storing the large containers in which the mouthwash is bottled.

Accordingly, the present invention provides a liquid mouthwash dispenser which obviates the abovementioned disadvantages. The dispenser comprises a cylindrical storage container having a mounting arm integrally formed therewith for securing the dispenser I on a wall, and a detachable cover disposed over a filling opening provided in the container. The bottom of the storage container includes an outlet aperture disposed in its bottom surface which admits liquid from the container to an outlet funnel secured on the storage container below the outlet aperture. A conicaIly-shaped plug is slidably disposed in the outlet aperture for controlling the outflow of liquid therefrom, and is coupled to a vertically movable annular member disposed below the storage container around the funnel. When the annular member is lifted upwardly, the conical member is lifted from the outlet aperture and liquid flows therethrough into the funnel and a cup or other container placed below the dispenser. When the annular member is released, the liquid pressure forces the plug into the outlet aperture to shut off the outflow of liquid from the container. 7

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a liquid dispenser for mouthwash and the like which is a convenient storage container and dispenser.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a liquid dispenser for mouthwash which is simple in design, easy to manufacture, and simple and reliable in its operation.

Other objects and features of the present invention will become apparent from the'following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings which disclose one embodiment of the invention. It is to be understood, however, that the drawings are designed for the purposes of illustration only, and are not intended as a definition of the limits and scope of the invention.

In the drawings, wherein similar reference numerals denote similar elements throughout the several views:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a liquid dispenser constructed in accordance with the present invention, shown secured to a wall;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional side view of the liquid dispenser, taken along section 2-2 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a partial exploded perspective view of the liquid dispenser, showing in detail the lower portion of the storage container.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown a liquid dispenser, generally denoted as 10, comprising a cylindrical storage container 11 having a filling opening 12 at one end thereof and a mounting member 13 integrally formed therewith for securing container 11 to a wall. A cover 14 is threadably disposed on a threaded rim formed on container 11 over opening 12 to prevent foreign matter from entering the interior of the container. The bottom portion of the storage container is provided with a circular aperture 15 through which the liquid mouthwash l6 flows out of container 1 1. A conically-shaped plug 17 is disposed in aperture 15 in order to regulate the outflow of the liquid mouthwash therefrom. Aperture 15 is also preferably conically shaped to provide a greater liquid seal between the plug and container. The plug is provided with a threaded shaft 18 which is threadably disposed through an annular washer 19 having a threaded aperture disposed therein. An annular-shaped ring member 20 is coupled to the washer by a plurality of rigid cylindrical-shaped coupling members 21. The coupling members are substantially L-shaped, and are slidably disposed in grooves 22 provided in a threaded cylindrical coupling shaft 23 integrally formed with container 11 below aperture 15. An outlet funnel 24 is threadably coupled over shaft 23 below aperture 15 for dispensing the liquid admitted thereinto from container 11.

To operate the dispenser, a cup 25 is disposed below annular ring-shaped member 20 so that funnel 24 is di rected into the inside of the cup. An upward force in the direction of arrows 26 is then exerted on the cup, so as to move annular member 20, coupling members 22 and plug 17 upwardly, as shown by the dotted lines in FIG. 2. Plug 17 is then lifted from aperture 15, and the liquid flows outwardly through aperture 15 into funnel 24 and cup 25. When the desired amount of liquid has been dispensed, the cup is moved downwardly and moved from beneath member 20, whereupon the force of gravity and the liquid in container 11 force plug 17 downwardly into aperture 15 until theflow of mouthwash therefrom is stopped. The above-described operation is repeated each time liquid is desired to be dispensed from the storage container. To fill the dispenser, cover 14 is removed and the liquid poured into container 11 through filling opening 12.

The entire dispenser is preferably constructed of suitable plastic material. It should be noted, however, that other suitable materials may also be used, either in combination with plastic, or individually. The dispenser is secured by mounting member 13 to a wall by a layer of adhesive material disposed between the mounting member and the wall. This enables the dispenser to be easily attached to tile, or other similar type surfaces in a bathroom. It should be noted that the liquid dispenser disclosed may beused to dispense liquids other than mouthwash, such as, for example, liquid soap, and such uses of the dispenser are contemplated.

While only a single embodiment of the present invention has been shown and described, it will be obvious to persons skilled in the art that many changes and member having a plurality of vertically disposed,

spaced-apart slots;

an annular funnel threadably engaged on said coupling member; 7

a cover detachably placed on said container over the filling opening;

3 4 a conical-shaped drain plug having a threaded shaft sition of said comically-shaped plug in the outlet apon the bottom surface and slidably disposed in the erture being controlable by vertical movement of outlet aperture of said container; and said adjustment member thereby controlling the an annular adjustment member coupled to said plug fl f liquid f said container' and dispofed below the outlet aPerture in 5 2. The liquid dispenser as recited in claim 1, further tom of said container for ad usting the position of comprising mounting means, integrally formed with Sald comcgl'shaped plugm h aperturefsald said container, and adhesive means disposed on said annular ad ustment member including a plurality of mounting means, for securmg said container on a wall.

"dL-h d d ldt dt 'd dngl s ape to s coup e a one en 0 Sal a 3. The liquid dispenser as recited in claim 2, wherein justment member, the L-shaped rods having an additional annular member that includes a threaded said container is provided with a plurality of threads on aperture provided therein coupled to the other end the Outside Surface thereof, adjacent Said filling p of said rods for threadably receiving the shaft of g and wherein Said Cover is threadably engaged Over said conical-shaped plug for coupling said conicalsaid opening on the container. ly-shaped plug to said adjustment member, the po- 

1. A liquid dispenser, comprising: a container having a filling opening at the top end thereof, and an outlet aperture at the bottom end thereof for draining liquid from the container; a cylindrical threaded coupling member integrally formed with said container and disposed below and co-axial with said outlet aperture, said coupling member having a plurality of vertically disposed, spaced-apart slots; an annular funnel threadably engaged on said coupling member; a cover detachablY placed on said container over the filling opening; a conical-shaped drain plug having a threaded shaft on the bottom surface and slidably disposed in the outlet aperture of said container; and an annular adjustment member coupled to said plug and disposed below the outlet aperture in the bottom of said container for adjusting the position of said conical-shaped plug in the outlet aperture, said annular adjustment member including a plurality of rigid L-shaped rods coupled at one end to said adjustment member, the L-shaped rods having an additional annular member that includes a threaded aperture provided therein coupled to the other end of said rods for threadably receiving the shaft of said conical-shaped plug for coupling said conically-shaped plug to said adjustment member, the position of said conically-shaped plug in the outlet aperture being controlable by vertical movement of said adjustment member thereby controlling the flow of liquid from said container.
 2. The liquid dispenser as recited in claim 1, further comprising mounting means, integrally formed with said container, and adhesive means disposed on said mounting means, for securing said container on a wall.
 3. The liquid dispenser as recited in claim 2, wherein said container is provided with a plurality of threads on the outside surface thereof, adjacent said filling opening, and wherein said cover is threadably engaged over said opening on the container. 